The friends over at Engadget (Click here) posted some nice new pictures of the Sony prototype camera and lenses. As you see from the image on top Sony displayed what looks to be a Full Frame DSLR shaped camera. I am not sure this has SLT technology..it may be that this is a pure mirrorless camera with DSLR shape. The camera could be a 4K competitor of the Canon EOS-1D C (here at BHphoto). Engadget reports that “Unfortunately, Sony says that these devices won’t make it to market for quite some time, so photogs will have to make do with this eye candy for now.”
So this is not a pure A-mount photographers camera but more of a FZ or PL mount 4K camcorder.
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that thing looks massive
Whatever the heck that thing is, its butt-ass ugly. RE-THINK IT SONY!
actually, comparing to the existing lenses… I take it back… it doesn’t look massive, so never mind
the top is not iso shoe?
it may just be a cold shoe, this is a early version of a prototype so you can’t really judge much from it, but if you look a bit to the left in the picture, that looks more like the new standard sony multi interface shoe
the adaptor makes the camera looks awful
For me it looks like a native PL mount video camera, with optional A-mount.
Hence the rather unorthodox looks. If it’d be a native E-mount, like Admin suggests – it wouldn’t be much different from Sony’s VG900. Which it clearly is not.
I guess when you rotate the mount it moves itself forward or backward.
Correction: when you rotate the ring, the mount inside moves forward or backward.
Its a 1DC but with all the video features – EVF, peaking, zebras, etc. If it has ND filters then I’m sold.
So this is the A to E interchangeable mount technology.
no its the existing FZ mount used in the F5/55, NAB is really a video focused events, all the products are part of the professional lineup, not really photography related
Wow that looks fugly!
I hope you realize that the camera is an April Fool’s gag. Look at the collapsed radio antenna on the right side of the camera.
so the entire press conference is a “fool’s gag” … I’ve been looking for the antenna on the live stream and guess what: there it was either!!!
As long as this is an prototype this can be anything … WIFI antenna or a FM radio antenna …
It’s a dildo for Sony’s naysayers
i think that is not an antenna, i have that on my FS100 too. I don’t know the name of it, but it’s for measuring focus distance
1) COLLAPSED RADIO ANTENNA!!
…it’s a joke?!? is it a new wi-fi?!?
2) I was waiting for somethink like a NEX-FF
I love sony but this time…
It’s the pin to accurately determine the sensor plane and measure focus distance.
See also other movie cameras:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lensprotogo/5963860081/in/set-72157627131049039/
It’s the pin to accurately determine the sensor plane and measure focus distance.
See also other movie cameras:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lensprotogo/5963860081/in/set-72157627131049039/
Ok I step back because I were wrong.
In my opinion this could be a good movie or photo camera but we are waiting for a NEX-FF.
That aerial is indeed curious! Either it’s useful for some video function I’m unaware of (not being a video enthusiast) or maybe it’s a transmitter for some new RF wireless flash system.
Or maybe a wifi aerial and they just haven’t bothered to miniaturise it until they make more headway on the internal design.
Or the camera has a built in DAB receiver. Imagine that, music while you shoot!
What’s the point, you think, to show unfinished A-mount camera at a video event?
Another clue that the camera is an April Fool’s joke, is the T and W marking on side of the shutter release. Why would the camera have a switch for zooming between tele and wide angle if the camera uses interchangeable lenses?
SARS should retract the picture and text before they embarrass themselves any further.
Never heard about powerzoom (PZ)? Every video camera has a zoom rokker for this kind of lenses. And look at the G5: http://cdn.asia.cnet.com/story_media/62218198/sc101_zoom_rocker_600x450.jpg
And don´t forget the NEX zoom rocker: http://photos.expertreviews.co.uk/images/front_picture_library_Expert_Reviews/dir_371/er_photo_185698_52.jpg
So no April Fool’s joke…
SARS, huh? I always thought visiting this site was a sickness.
The NEX-VG900 was a zoom rocker.
‘Has’, even.
SARS?
Photo Eye, you just admitted your ignorance 🙂 You should be embarassed 😉
I’m willing to put up money, are you? A nice friendly bet, nothing big. You can pay my PayPal account.
People already explained to you what’s the purpose of T/W switch, and what like what but Sony Video division got quite a long history of being serious about things they do, so… I’m quite sure you’d miserably loose your bet. 😉
i think i saw a radiator at the bottom of the machine… that’s why it’s “tall”~
This Camera has no integrated vertical grip (no second shutter button and no second grip).
it is just huge.
(As this is a video camera an no one films in portrait orientation …)
Maybe it has a square sensor and nobody needs to rotate is anymore!?
I don’t think videographers give two hoots about square sensors, unless Sony happens to bring out a full line of anamorphic lenses to go along with it.
It’s really a format that appeals only to still shooters, but given we’re second class citizens in Sony’s eyes, would they really make something just for us?
That’s true but it’s meant to be the ultimate hybrid (see formfactor), in which case a square sensor makes some sense because it doesn’t require to rotate the camera for stills (which is especially bothersome if you have all kinds of video tools attached) when a session consists of a mix of stills and video.
have any of you (or even admin) actually looked at the pictures on engadget?
The camera is stated as being a 4k video camera and looking at the photos on there its clear the camera uses a much larger mount than current the current A mount. If anyting this is a ‘C’ mount equivalent with some sort of A mount adaptor. Why on earth would it have anything to do with E mount?
It looks to be PL mount with an adaptor for at least A mount.
Also making a PL->E mount adaptor doesn’t seem like an inconceivable possibility.
“so here at these new prototype cameras can work with lenses that are already avaible on the market. So that’s one camera system to be used for prototype cameras, future cameras, and existing SLR”
– Well, I’m glad they picked A-mount. Wise choice.
With the A-mount Canon 1Dc counterpart we might have a really interesting times ahead of us, and a rather bright future for the A-mount 🙂 Though one thing is sure: It’ll be a future on expensive side of things 😉
That adapter looks awful on the camera, why A-mount user need E-mount lenses? I don’t think it’s a good idea.
Of course he won’t need E-mount glass. But he might need an PL mount glass if he is serious about the video 🙂 Or as someone mentioned – FZ mount.
One reason you might want a E mount lens on an alpha camera is they come with stabilization in the lens and most alpha lenses don’t.
You make a lot of assumptions here.
Some of the posters are really on the very low end as IQ and as anything else.
specifically those that saw a “collapsed radio antenna”….
For them to put this image out, I would say that this would come out next year along with the new FS camera. Both will be dual mount. E and PL and A and PL. This will be a massive attraction to the film makers and still allow beautiful stills using the A mount camera.
Its try what Sky Walker said, the future does look very interesting, but very expensive. I might start looking at buying some PL lenses now to save the hit when it actually lands! ha
If A-mount camera uses E-mount lenses that means there is no mirror any more.
For E-mount lenses there is no room for a mirror.
That’s the main innovation imho.
This is neither A nor E mount nor PL mount. It’s FZ mount from F55/F5/F3. There is adapter on the camera (it’s FZ mount to A-mount adapter).
This is not a consumer camera. It’s made by pro video division.
It’s going to be very very expensive ($10K) and would primarily be a video camera, similar to Canon C300 line.
Its good that sony is comming out with something but I would like to know some specs.
The looks of the camera sre neither a dealmaker or dealbreaker for me.
I hope sony doesn’t lead forget about the high eesolution shooters out here.
Perhaps the new camera can shoot high resolution (56mp) for us AND really fast at lower res.
Perhaps siny might actually use one of their new patents mayby square or stacked.
Barry, you need to read some of the comments here to realize that this is mainly a video camera, not a still camera.
Yes, all would like to know more.
But we can also appreciate the information that Sony have provided, if only in the form of a picture.
– It aims for video.
– Mount will be thru a ‘universal’ adapter.
Some questions are:
– If it aims for video, will only have a 4K sensor? Or will it have a Hi-Rez still sensor? In that case , will do pixel-binning instead of line skipping?
– Will the A-adapter have a built in motor? Or is it SSM/HSM/SAM only?
– Can it actually have a SLT mirror? It could be possible to move it sideways into the body for some type of adapters. Otherwise how will focusing be done?
– If focusing system is ‘only’ NEX based, what is the point of making the video camera look like a Canon Pro-level body?
Quite clearly it’s response to Canon Cinema EOS. Might be meaningless for photographers, you might not see any sense in that, but obviously: both Canon and Sony do see a sense in developing system like that, and as we know: Canon makes some nice profits on these, so Sony wants to join the party (as up till now: Canon stood there with no direct competitor what so ever).
The FZ mount has the same registration distance as the E-mount and is large enough in diameter to fit the E-mount inside it. (I think). In any case for a A-mount to have PDF focusing it would be done the same as the current E-mount with an adaptor that has a mirror and PDF sensor in it. For most video applications it would use on-sensor PDF and contrast auto focus or manual focus. The mount is very versatile but also very large compared to conventional still cameras.
boring event …
ADMIN – ANDREA –
ANY SLT-A58 shipping info and or sightings ???
Thanks
Any slt-A78 updates???
That lens mount is waaaay too small for my taste. 😛
That is so hideous!! haha
What lenses are in the background there!? On the left side? New 16-80 CZ?
These are dedicated cine lenses from Sony. Not 16-80 CZ.
Here’s one of the lenses that stands on a left: http://blog.abelcine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/14x-Sony-zoom-lens.jpg It’s 18-252mm T3.8
Than there’s A-mount Zeiss (I suppose it’s 16-30), a power-zoom lens, and last one on the left is Zeiss 24mm.
*16-35mm f/2.8 of course 🙂 There’s no 16-30.
$10000
It clearly doesn’t have an integrated vertical grip.
If that’s what’s going onto the FF NEX, count me out.
If Canon ever comes out with a FF SL1, count me in. It’d at least be a known quantity and their engineers wouldn’t make something Sony-Wonky.
It’s clear now, I’m gonna buy another A900 body and start saving up for now. I will skip the SLT technology 😉
+1
I agree. Same here.
Sweet fancy Moses, those lenses are huge. The 24-70ZA looks small next to the 50mm cine lens. The white lens on the right is as big as the presenters head.
the white lenses on the right are the 300G and the 70-200G.
with the new 4k Blackmagic Cinema Camera announced it will become very interesting to see how the market will react.. if ever Blackmagic manages to mass produce their cameras Sony, RED, Canon and the rest of the bunch will be in very serious trouble!
Agree fully Gunnar! Beautiful design and smart concept.
I’d say smart concept awkward design. But yeah, if they can ship the new 4K and mini cam without the problems of the original BMCC they’ll be winners. The problem is the new 4K cam is EF mount only. I know it isn’t possible but it really should be E-mount or something like it. An SLR mount limits your lens options–well it limits mine.
I think its native E-mount, the 24-70 is with the La-ea3 adapter, the outter silver mount is for Cine lens adapter. the clue is the zoom control at the shutter button that use to control the powerzoom lens.
It’s not E-mount. E-mount is not as thick (diameter). It’s FZ mount from F5/F55
….ah….sony missed the boat this year ! That presentation was boring and blackmagic is showing the world that small cameras can not only shoot raw HD but also 4k and have global shutters…..without costing 25k. Face it…..the big boyz are on the ropes !
Yeap! Sony as Panasonic and Canon too, received a kick in the nuts, thanks to the Blackmagic Cinema Cameras, incredible image at great price. The lack of courage to create innovative products has pay the price. The Pocket Cinema is what Sony should have done with the Nex VG line or a FS50.
I doubt Sony noticed Blackmagic. They’re concerned with Canon and RED.
That may be to their detriment. I’m starting to shoot more video professionally and looking at maybe jumping to the m43 camp not for Panasonic or Olympus but for BMCC’s cams. The new mini cam at $1k look very promising in the applications I shoot.
TBH: If I would be starting semi-pro video recording: I wouldn’t even look at anything below Super35 format. Not in the age where you can get loads of cameras in this or bigger size. My guess is that m4/3 will be killed in video quite quickly. By Sony, Canon, RED, and possibly other companies as well. Shame that blackmagic doesn’t see the potential of bigger sensors and doesn’t want to strike a deal with some other manufacturer to cooperate.
that’s some crazy looking lens mount on that baby. must be the E/A-hybrid mount we’ve been hearing about. I’m guessing it’s mirrorless, although it looks much bigger than I anticipated. On the other hand, it is only a prototype.
Some people on this site sure are retarded. Its a damn proto type. It is a big as hell proto type because I just sold that lens and its huge. This camera makes it look like a nex lens on a a900.
Absolutely, numerous readers have rightfully classified this prototype as a DSLR-shaped video only camera but even more readers still refer to it as though it was a stills camera.
Though, the title of the post is misleading again.
And both would be missing the point. The only reason to create a video camera with the form factor of DSLR, is to make it a hybrid. In this case likely a high end 4k capable video and high end stills camera. It’s what Canon did and what Sony should be able to do better with the technology and experience available.
And those crying about the small target market should realize that the margins are much much larger there, the convergence markets are growing fast and the halo effect from connecting the highly regarded (outside the smaller Alpha community too, the important part) and successful pro video market with the Alpha cameras can be a good pillar for the future of DSLR like cameras as well. Sofar they haven’t succeeded here because even products like the A99 couldn’t bridge that gap in a clear way. Taking things closer to pro video and stills, could. And many visible details plus the lenses shown seem to subscribe that theory.
So Sony thought it would be smart to chase the ultra small DSLR with built in grip market? Very wise use of R&D money at a company losing colossal amounts of money. Hopefully the new CEO has the sense to put a stop to their out of control and unfocused engineering team.
People… it’s a prototype! Could we stop all the nonsense now?
Hello everybody,… sony fooled you very well! Colapsable antenna? come on, we’re not in the 80’s! two hot shoe’s? WTF?
W & T button to zoom? LOL
Admin
Please clarify are we looking at a video camera or a still camera?
This is a video camera with still capacities. Think Canon EOS-1D C.
You are all wrong. This is not a camera at all. This fugly thing is actually a sledgehammer Sony will use to knock down the rest of it’s reputation.
Looks like MEDIUM FORMAT! Really, it has to be a huuge sensor inside that brick!
Don’t forget much larger battery capacity and much better cooling required. Not to mention the insane storage requirements, even with the option of external reorders.
Medium Format and PL mount just don’t match. This Camera is clearly targeted towards video/cinematic use.
This is not PL mount. It’s FZ mount from Sony’s F series camcorder.
This is the A1 ??
Just some speculation but why shouldn’t these cameras have 8K Sensors (Sony was allready able to make a 36MPX FF 4:3 sensor so a 35mm or S35 33.2MPX 16:9 Sensor should be possible in the future aswell I suppose.
Once again I have faith in Sony.
Thank god, previous message from CEO pushing backwards cameras was making me nervious, MY FAITH HAS BEEN RESTORED!
(Just maybe ill switch to NEX, but still on Sony line :D)
this prototype its in the ” proto” phase ….. I’m not going to make conclusions from a thing like that …. just one , I need some sense of humor here !
Hi guys,
Can someone tell me what could be this weird square on the top of the camera (just next to the flash iso mount)? I don’t want to say foolish stuff but it looks like a kind of second flash mount or a sensor… Am I wrong?
The shoe on top is a cold ISO shoe. The second shoe looks to be the new Sony ISO smart shoe.
This is a bit odd, kind of a bad move. Look they changed the flash mount (on the a99 and a58) for the standard iso shoe and now they would come back to their (new) own mount shoe?!